A New Roof and Solar Energy All in One

Is your roof getting old? Is it time to replace it? Why not also consider installing a solar energy system as part of your roof. Cutting edge technology over the last decade called solar shingles has emerged as a newer type of photovoltaic modules that can be incorporated into buildings (BIPV – see previous blog). These solar shingles have been designed to look and act like regular shingles, but have the added benefit of creating energy from the sun. These shingles use flexible thin film cells which allow them to be installed as part of the roof. These shingles help extend the normal roof life by protecting against water damage and ultraviolet rays. Also, since solar shingles replace traditional shingles, a homeowner will save on materials and will benefit from reduced electricity costs. Depending on the type of roof, solar shingles are available in different sizes and styles.

Dow Solar Shingles

Please contact PurePoint Energy with any questions and to find out more about renewable energy options. http://www.purepointenergy.com/your.htm

Getting the Most out of Your Solar Panels – Maximum Power Point Tracking

Traditionally, it was expected that a solar panel, lets say one rated at 130 watts, would only produce a portion of those watts (say only 88 watts) due to inadequate voltage levels between the panel and the battery in off grid systems. Most panels are designed to put out 16 to 18 of actual volts, while a typical battery produces somewhere around 12 volts. A standard charge controller transfers the current from the panels directly to the battery resulting in the panel voltage being dragged down to sync with the battery. Up until relatively recently this was the norm. However, with the creation of the Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT), solar panels have been able to produce power much closer to their optimal electric load. A MPPT is a high efficiency DC to DC converter that uses inverter technology to convert the voltage that the panel wants to work at for maximum power and turns that into more current at the voltage level of the working battery. A MPPT works to track what is called the maximum power point, which changes based on weather conditions and the time of year. Without a way of tracking this power point, it won’t be reached. Nowadays, on-grid inverters use MPPTs to maximize power from the solar panel array. For off grid systems, an MPPT charge controller is utilized to generate maximum power. More recently, MPPT charge controllers have become more affordable making it a very wise investment for any off-grid battery supported solar energy system.

To find out more information about solar energy please visit http://www.purepointenergy.com/

Costs of a Solar Energy System Cheaper than Ever Before and Poised to Fall Further.

One of the major challenges that people face when considering a solar energy system for a residence or business can be the initial cost of the installation. It’s an unfortunate reality, but many a business and family have had to forgo their dreams of generating their power from a renewable energy source. Until now.

Since 2008 both individual states and the federal government have been stepping up their efforts to provide incentives that dramatically reduce the cost of a solar energy system. The federal government now offers a 30 % tax credit for the first year of installation. Across the nation, states have been passing legislation that decreases the upfront cost of solar energy systems. In fact, both Connecticut and New York offer some of the best incentives in the country. State incentives often come in the form of rebates passed onto customers through particular state programs. These rebates vary based on the size of the solar system and sometimes based on the area you are located in. To find a complete breakdown of the incentives in your area please follow the link and click on your state. http://www.dsireusa.org/.

And that’s not all the good news for consumers. Recently, the price of solar panels has been steadily declining since 2008, and by some estimates the price will drop as much as 40 % by 2010. The main cause of this price drop is due to the increased supply of the main ingredient in solar panels, polysilicon. This coupled with a decrease in demand for solar panels due to a shrinking economy in parts of Europe has helped drive the price down. With decreasing costs and great monetary incentives, now is the time to look into solar.

For more information on solar energy systems please visit http://www.purepointenergy.com.